“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Our opinions and reactions are usually determined by our perspective. You know, the old, “Is this glass half empty or half full?” discussion. Our perspective is determined by our frame of reference. The method we use to interpret what we observe determines what we believe about how to deal with the given situation.
The Apostle Paul used the promise of heaven, and the glory that is waiting there for God’s children as the standard by which he analyzed the sufferings of his life. He realized that suffering was only temporary, and that something far better was waiting ahead. He uses the word, “reckon,” to describe how he came to his conclusion. This word means to evaluate, to judge, or consider. In his case, he drew a comparison between what he could and couldn’t see, and chose to place his hope in what he could not yet visualize.
This hope wasn’t placed in a fantasy, but in what God had revealed to him about heaven. God had allowed him to see heaven, but prohibited him from talking about it, simply because God knew the human mind could not comprehend what is in our eternal future. Paul described it as, “The glory which shall be revealed in us.”
In the words of Christian musician, Bart Millard, “I can only imagine.”
So often in our times of suffering, we are tempted to compare it with previous experience, or the sufferings of others. This leads to two erroneous extremes, we will either be lifted up in pride, thinking that our suffering is greater than theirs, or we will discount our suffering, even feeling guilty because we view our suffering as being less than theirs. In either case, we will miss God’s purpose in our suffering by doing this.
When we compare our suffering to the “glory which shall be revealed”, something wonderful happens, our heart becomes filled with the sincerest of hope. This is not the kind of hope that is mere wishful thinking, but the earnest, realistic expectation that is produced by faith in the promises of God.
In times of suffering, it is helpful to have the right perspective. I have often thought of it this way, regret looks backward, worry looks around, faith looks up, and hope looks ahead.
Look forward to the glory, my friends!
Leave a Reply